Collating device for autographic registers



g- 9, 1932- F. HAGEMANN 1,870,451

COLLATING DEVICE FOR AUTOGRAPHIG REGISTERS Filed Dec. 2]., 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l M .mw M,

ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 9, 1932. E 1,870,451

COLLATING DEVICE FOR AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS Filed Dec. 21, 1929 2-Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

M/ M ATTORNEYS.

spection when the operator is Patented Aug. 9, 1932 PATENT orricr;

LOUIS FRED HAG-EMANN,

BOOK COMPANY, OIJTARIO, CANADA LIMITED, OF

OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR'TO AMERICAN TORONTO, CANAJJA, A CORPORATION OF COLLATING- DEVICE FOR AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS Application filed December 21, 1929. Serial No. 415,636.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for making manifold inscriptions and more particularly with reference to some of its details it relates to improvements in devices particularly adapted for use in con motion with a manifolding machine such, for example, autographic registers.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved collating device adapted for use in connection with the class of machines mentioned whereby datainscribed on the record strips or work webs may be conveniently arranged or collated for ready inor reference.

A further object of the invention is to provide for machines of the class mentioned an improved collating device whereby certain data or items of a series of transactions such, for example, as the customers names and/or other data in connection with the respective transactions may be readily inscribed in a methodical manner on a. single record sheet so as to be available for reference.

A further object is to provide in manifold- 3 in machines of the class mentioned an improved adjustable support or carriage for a collating record sheet whereby said sheet may be readily moved into successive writing positions so as to receive a consecutive series 0 entries or transactions inscribed upon different record strips.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved feeding mechanism for recor ling machines of the class mentioned for feeding one or a plurality of record strips and for feeding at the same time a separate record sheet or strip so as to bring predetermined writing areas or blank forms of the diiferent record strips successively into manifolding registry with each other.

A further object is to provide an improved drive for the strip feed mechanism of auto-graphic registers or similar machines equipped with collating mechanism whereby conveniently positioned for making an entry on the record strips the operating mechanism will be conveniently accessible for operation.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of'certain illustrative but preferred embodiments of the invention and will be in part obvious in connection therewith;

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of ele ments, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention and to the accompanying draw ings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of an autographic register equipped with the invention, parts being broken away sure.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged the feed mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section through the machine showing, in elevation, the supporting and adjusting means collating sheet.

Fig. 4 is a detail enlarged section substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary partially diagrammatic view of a modified form of the invention, parts being shown in section similar to those of Fig. 4 and other parts being in elevation;

'Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view of the feeding mechanism for the collating sheet carriage, taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 7 is a section substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

For a detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, and first to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. According to this embodiment, the invention is disclosed as being incorporated in a manifolding machine of the autographic register type including a casing 10 which may be of any well known form, preferably having an interior compartment in which a supply of work webs or record strips, preferably folded vertical section of for the into a zigzag supply pack, may be stored. The top of the register is formed to provide a platen 11 arranged to support the record strips S for the reception of inscriptions in the well known manner. As will be readily understood, these record strips will be led from the supply Within the storage compartment over certain guides at the rear end of the machine forwardly to the platen.

For advancing. the record stripsinto inscription-receiving position, and for ejecting the inscribed strips from the machine, a strip feeding mechanism is employed, which is preferably of the type including a pan of feed disks 12 and a cooperating feed roll 13 having a feed surface engaging the feed peripheries of thedisk. This type. of feed mechanism, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, is adapted to grip. and feed the record strips forwardlyand to align the several record strips with eachother over the platen by virtue of feed control apertures 14 formed in the record strips and spaced laterally to correspondwith the distance bet-ween the feed disks 12. The feed roll, preferably carried by a housing and support 15,.isl swingably mounted for movement toward and away fronroperative position upon the ivoted supporting arms 16. ,Driving mechanism is provided for. the feed disks 12 including a feedshaft 17 care ryingthefeed disks and rotatably mounted in the casing. A bevel gear 18 is mounted upon an end of. the. feed shaft 17. projectin from the casing, and meshes with a secon bevel :gear '19 mounted upon a feed drive shaft 20. This drive shaft extends longitudinally of the casing of the autographic register, being mounted for rotation in suitable bearings, and at. the end thereof remote from the bevel gears is an operating'handle 21 for manual. operation of the: feed .mechanism. With this arrangement of the driving mecha nismfor the feed disks, the operator will be in convenient ositionn for. operating the record strip feed when standing at the side of themachine in position to write upon the record strips from one of the longitudinal edges thereof- Some of the particular advantages of thisarrangement will be made clear asthe description proceeds. Mounted on the end of the machine, adjacent to the handle21, there is preferably positioned a stop lug 22 arranged to cooperate with aretractable stop -lug 23 which may, as shown, be mounted in alignment with the handle. F or retractingthe lug 23,.it may be connected to the handle 21 in a manner known in the art... Pulling outwardly on the handle to move it longitudinally will retract the lug 23 out of alignment withthe stop lug 22,, and the handle may be nrged'into its normal 0 erative position by means of a spring. It will thus be seen that rotation of the drive shaft 20 will be limited to a single revolution by means of these stop lugs. hen it is desired to initiate a feeding cycle, the lug 23 will be retracted until it passes the stop lug V 22, when it again assumes normal position so as to engage the stop lug again upon completion of angular movement of 360. Each feeding cycle will advance the record strips of the strips. The inscribed free ends of the record strips will be fed beyond the feed roll, where they may be torn off against a tearing edge 24 formed on the housing 15, and the strips may also be transversely perforated or otherwise weakened to facilitate tearing.

Transfer or carbon sheets C may be provided for transferring the inscribed records to the faces of the lower record strips S. These carbon sheets may be supported in any preferred manner above the platen 11, a:supply of carbon sheets being preferably contained within a housing 25 extending along one side of the register casing. The free ends of the carbons may be led forwardly from this supply across the platen in inter leavcd manifoldingrelation with the record strips and retained at their opposite free ends by any known clamping means (not shown).

A collating record sheet A is supported in position to overlie the record strips S in overlapping manifolding relation with the latter. This collating sheet may, as shown, be in the form of a single sheet ruled to provide a erably designatedby serially arranged numbers as shown. The collating sheet may be additionally ruled to provide longitudinal or vertical columns, each having a heading '27, and other printed explanatory data and a heading may be provided at the top of the sheet as indicated at 28. The serially arranged numbers at the left margin of the collating sheet may also correspond to the successive blank forms or tickets of the record strips S, which may, if desired, be correspondingly numbered. F or supportingthe collating sheet in operative position, a support,indicated generally at 28, is provided.

series of blank spaces 26, each pref- This support includes a supporting rail .29

disposed transversely of the register, preferably slightlyabove the level of the platen extending at opposite ends thereof beyond the lateral side walls of the register and supported at opposite ends thereof by means of supporting brackets attached to the side walls of the casing 107 These brackets may be similar, as shown, each beingprovided with an upwardly extendingsupporting extension or loop 31 apertured to receive the ends. of the supportingrrail and provided with a set screw 32 for anchoring the rail in operative position.

Mounted upon the supporting rail 29 is a collating sheet-supporting carriage 33 having a supporting plate 34, upstanding from which are supporting pins or posts adapted to enter apertures formed in the margin of the collating sheet A, as shown in Fig. 1. These supporting posts 35 preferably have projections 36 extending laterally from the side faces thereof, being adapted to engage the collating sheet at the apertures thereof so as to avoid accidental removal of the sheet from the supporting posts. These projections function as retaining means for retaining the collating sheet in position upon the posts when the latter have been slid into the apertures of the sheet. The supporting carriage 33 has supporting lugs 37 and 38 engaging the supporting rail 29. These lugs may be formed by bending a metallic plate so as to provide a loop extending around, or partially around, the supporting rail. By

' this means the carriage is slidable along the supporting rail transversely of the platen 11, and it may also be swung pivotally upon the supporting rail as an axis. That is, the supporting plate 34 may be swung upwardly upon the rail as an'axis from its horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The upper surface of the supporting rail 29 is formed with a series of notches or seats 39, spaced therealong, the spacingcorresponding to the widths of the blank spaces 26 of the collating sheet. The middle carriage supporting lug 38 is formed with an opening in its upper face, in which is seated a retaining ball 40 forming a ratchet pawl adapted to engage in the respective seats 39. A supporting bracket 41 is attached to the carriage, supporting a stem 42 carrying a handle 43. The supporting stem 42 has a recess for re ceiving a spring 44 engaging the retaining ball 40 for urging the latter into yielding engagement with the seats 39.

It will now be seen that the supporting carriage 33 for the collating sheet may be adjusted to difierent longitudinal positions along the supporting rail 29. The range of travel of this carriage will be sufficient to permit travel of the collating sheet a dis tance equal to the combined widths of the blank record spaces 26. Blank space number 1 may be brought into alignment with the record strips S overthe platen 11 by appropriate movement of the carriage 33. When in this, or any other, writing position, the retaining ball 40 will engage in the cor responding retaining seat 39 so as to prevent accidental movement of the carriage, thus retaining the'collating sheet in its correct writing position until the record has been made. It will be observed that the format-ions or seats 39 and the cooperating detent or ball 40 are formed to provide a two-way checking device, that is, the checking action exerted upon the record supporting carriage 33 will be exerted in either direction thus positioning the record strip correctly in each of its successive recording or writing positions. Furthermore, the tendency of this checking device is to effect the final adjustriage 33 will also be moved ahead one step,.

or until the checking ball 40 comes into engagement with the next successive retaining seat 39. The carriage, and consequently the collating sheet, is thus arrested and restrained automatically with the next successive blank space 26 in manifolding registry with the next successive blank form of the record strip, and the sheet will be retained in this position during the next inscribing oper ation. It will thus be seen that this carriage construction provides an arresting and retaining means for the collating sheet, the arresting operations taking place step by step as the different blank forms are inscribed. In this manner the data inscribed on a series of blank forms of the record strips S is arranged and collated upon the sheet A, wherebyit is very conveniently arranged for reference on a single sheet.

It will be observed that the direction of the inscribed lines will be longitudinal of the record strips S and will be transverse of the collating sheet. Also, the direction of feed of the'colla-ting sheet is transverse to that of the strips S. Thus, the arrangement of the collating sheet and of the feeding mechanism makes it convenient for the operator to be positioned at the side of the register while making the inscriptions, and the feeding operations both of the record strips and of the collating sheet are conveniently accomplished.

If it is desired to feed the collating sheet more than a single step at a. time, this action may be facilitated by swinging the supporting plate 34 of the carriage upwardly from its normal supporting position. Upon such swinging movement of the carriage, the ball 40 will pass laterally beyond the zone of the retaining seats 39 then resting against the smooth, continuous cylindrical surface of the supporting rail. Therefore, in this position longitudinal movement of the carriage along the rail will be unobstructed because the ball will slide along the smooth surface of the rail and the checking effect will be nullified. hen the desired movement has been completed, the carriage can be swung back again into its normal operative position, in which it is arrested and retained by engagement of the pawl in the respective retaining seat 39. -A second preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in 5, 6 and 7, the

general arran ment being similar to the embodiment a ready described, but -in this case the step by step feeding actionof the collating sheet carriage is efl'ected automatically by operation of the'record strip feed. I

Asshown in-the drawings the general constructionxof the collating sheet carriage 33' is similar to that already described, audit is supported for movement along a support- 7 ingrail 45,arranged with reference to the register and the platen thereof in a manner similar to-that described above, and similarly supported. This supportingrail is formed with retaining seats 39' for receiving the checkingball 40, the same as in the previous case, but the rail is made hollow, or with an internal cavity for the reception of a longi= tudinally reciprocable operating ratchet bar 46. Thisratchet bar is supported by the rail 45 and is mounted therein for longitudinal sliding 'reciprocation', having a; ratchet rib 47 provided 'with ratchet teeth extending along its length a distance equal to the travel of the collating sheet. The supporting rail may be anchored in the supporting lugs 31 of thebrackets 30 in the same manner that the supporting rail 29 is mounted. I

A lon itudinal slot 48 extends along the under si e ofthe rail 45 receiving the ratchet rib 47. Beyond the end of this ratchet-- rib, and also positioned in the slot48, isan'operatinglug 49 fixed to the ratchet bar 46 and positioned adjacent to an operating arm 50 mounted upon the feed drive shaft- 20, it being understood that this drive shaft is mounted in the manner already disclosed. As the drive shaft 20 rotates, the operating arm will come periodically into engagement with the operating lug 49so as to move the ratchet bar 46 longitudinally. I

A bracket plate 5l is attached to the under side of the carriage 33, having an interior recess for the reception of a ratchet pawl pressed into engagement with the teeth of the ratchetrib 47 by means of a spring 53, and anchored by means of a pivot 54 to the bracket 51. I

. At one end of the ratchet bar 46 positioned within the cavity in the rail 45 is a compression spring-55 whichmay be held in position bya screw plug 56 in the end of the rail and against which the spring is seated! l his spring is normally under compression urging the ratchet bar 46in one direction to the end of its travel,in which it may be limited by an appropriate stop.

' e carriage supporting lug 57 shown in Fig. 5 is formed to engage the rail 45 to support said carriage, and is cut away as indicated at 58 so as to permit swinging mov ment of the carriage a manner above described, without obstruction bythe operating lug 49 past which the support 57 may at times-move. It will thus beseen that the cari,a7o, 45 1 riage may be swung'u wardl as describedto disengage the retaining bal 40 from the seats .39 so as to permit fre'e longitudinal adjustment of the supporting carriage. l Vhen the carriage-is swung in this manner,f the pawl 52 moves out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 47 ,then resting against the smooth, cylindrical outer surface of the rail 45. The external edge of the rail 45 adjacent to the slot 48 may be inclined or rounded so:as to forma guidingsurface over which the pawl may ride when passing laterally from engagement with the ratchet teeth. The carria is then free to be moved longitudinally wit out obstruction either by the pawl 52 or bythoball 40'.

It will now be seen'that when the drive shaft 20 is operatedto feed the record strips S, the arm-50 comes into engagement with the lug 49, thus movingthe ratchet bar 46 longitudinally and compressing the spring 55. During this movement, the ratchet bar engagesthe pawl 52, carrying the latter together with thecarriage 39' for-a distance along the supporting rail 45. The parts will be proportioned so that this movement is approximately equal to thedistance between two adjacent retaining seats 39'. Movement of the ratchet bar in the opposite direction will be effected by'the spring 55. It will thus be seen that the carriage will be automatically moved 'ste'p by'step upon operation of the feed drive shaft,1 and will be arrested and retained in operative position at each'step'by means of the ball 40'. At each revolution of the record strip 'feed mechanism, the collating sheet 'Will thus be fed for a single step or cycle. The collating sheet is thus synchronously fed with the record stripand both are kept in correct step so as to bring corresponding recording parts thereof successively into manifolding position. i

In either of the'preferred embodiments described, the final movement of the collating sheet at each feeding cycle may be effected by engagement of the arresting ball 40 or 40 in the corresponding seat 39 or-39'. Thus when the ball begins to engage'in the seat, it comes into engagement with the inclined surface at the adjacent or near end of the seat, whereupon the forward movement of the carriage and the sheet will be completed by virtue of this engagement and by the spring 44 or 44' which may be sufficiently strong for this purpose. In the'embodiment of Fig. 5 operatingarm 50 may be proportioned and adjusted to discontinue its feeding impulse upon the ratchet bar 46 at about the instant that the ball 40 engages the near end of the seat 39'. This feature is of importance since by virtue of it the writing spaces of the collating sheet are constantly kept in correct step and manifolding alignmentwith the respective blank forms of the record strips which are aligned by the disk feed mechanism as described. The arm may.

be angularly adjusted by means of an angularly adjustable supporting collar 59on the 5 shaft 20 carrying said arm.

The carriage support shown in Fig. 7 may have the feed ratchet associated therewith as shown, and may be positioned at the forward or top end of said carriage while the support 57 is preferably positioned at the rear of support; and there may be one or more of the supports 57. The supports 57 and 60 may thus be relatively positioned 7 on the carriage to permit travel the full length of th collating sheet A without unduly elongating the supporting rail 45.

The disk feed for the record strips S is preferably of the type disclosed in the Johnston Patent No. 1,658,127, issued February 7, 1928, and may operate substantially as therein set forth to feed and align the strips and to start them after an aligning action, the record strips being provided with two longitudinal series of feed controlling apertures arranged substantially as set forth in the patent.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construct-ion and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

353 Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z 1. In a manifolding machine, in combination, means for feeding one or more record strips into inscription receiving position, a collating sheet support mounted for movement transversely of the path of record strip feed,.means for feeding said collating sheet R support to adjust the sheet into different writing positions and a checking device coopcrating directly with said collating sheet support for arresting and retaining said collating sheet in its several adjusted positions.

. 2. In a manifolding machine, in combina- 'tion, means for feeding one or more record strips into inscription receiving position, a collating sheet support mounted for movementtransversely of the path of record strip 55 feed, means for feeding said collating sheet support to adjust the sheet into different transverse writing positions, and checking means cooperating with said collating sheet support in successive transverse positions co thereof for successively arresting said collating sheet after predetermined advancements thereof.

3. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, means for feeding one or more 651 record strips into inscription receiving position on said platen, a supporting rail disposed transversely of the machine at the remote end of the platen from said feeding means, a carriage adjustable along said rail for carrying a collating sheet into different transverse manifolding positions with relation to the record strip, said rail having notches therealong and a detent engaging said notches for checking the carriage in a plurality of predetermined transverse positions.

l. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, means for feeding one or more record strips into inscription receiving position, a supporting rail disposed transversely of the machine above the top thereof and adjacent one end of the platen and extending at one end thereof beyond the adjacent lateral platen edge, and a carriage moimted upon and adjustable along said rail and movable to the extending end thereof for carrying a collating sheet into different transverse manifolding positions with reference to the record strip to afford support for the sheet outside of the platen edge.

5. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, means for feeding one or more record strips into inscription receiving position, a supporting rail disposed transversely of the machine above the top thereof and adjacent one end of the platen and a carriage adjustable along said rail for carrying a collating sheet into difierent transverse manifolding positions with reference to the record strip, said supporting rail extending beyond the opposite lateral platen edges whereby the carriage may move thereon to points beyond said platen edges, and supporting brackets for said rail at opposite sides of the machine, saidrail having notches therealong and a detent engaging said notches for arresting said carriage in a plurality of predetermined positions.

6. In a manifolding machine, in combination, means for feeding a record strip into inscription receiving position, separate sup porting means for supporting a collating sheet in manifolding relation with reference to the record strip and means operatively connected to said strip feeding means for adjusting said separate supporting means so as to move the collating sheet into successive writing positions when said record strip is fed into successive writing positions by said feeding means.

'7. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, means for feeding a record strip into writing position upon said platen, a supporting carriage for supporting a collating sheet in manifolding relation with the record strip upon said platen, means for mounting said carriage for movement transversely of the platen and means operatively connected to said strip feed means to move 9. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, means for feeding a record strip into writing; position. upon said platen, a. supporting carriage forsupporting a collating sheet in manifolding relation with the record strip upon said platen, means for mounting saidcarriagefor movement transversely of the platemmeans operatively connectedv to said strip feed means to, move said carriage upon saidmounting means transversely of said platen and an arresting device forarresting said carriage in successive predeters mined-positions.

1 0. In a manifolding machine, in combination, means for feeding record strips includingstrip-engaging feed devices and a I transversefeed shaft, :1 support for supporting a collatingsheet for movement at an angle. to strip feed, a longitudinal driveshaft operativelyconnected to drive said feed shaft, and. an operating handle connected to said T drive shaft and remotely disposed from said feed shaft. 7 p v 11. In. a manifolding machine, in combination, means for feeding record strips includingstrip-engaging feed devices and a transverse feed shtfhalongitudinal drive shaft operatively connected to drive said feed shaft, and an o eratinghandle connected to said drive sha t'and remotely disposed from said feed shaftand means operatively connected to said drive shaft'for feeding a collating sheet transversely of record strip feed.

' 12. In a manifolding machine, in combination, feed mechanism for effecting, longitudinal feed of continuous traveler record strips and reciprocatory step by step feeding mechanism operatively connected to the first mentioned feed mechanism for effecting step by step feeding transversely of record strip feed of a collating sheet.

13. In a manifolding IIlflClllIlB',3lH combination, feed mechanism for effecting longitudinal feed of continuous traveler record strips, saidmechanism including strip gripping feed discs for engaging in strip, apertures to check stripwfeed after a predetermined advance thereof, a support fora collating :sheet,and

means operatively connected with said feed mechanism for advancing said collating sheet support a predetermined distance correlated with the advance of said record strip by said feed. mechanism.

. 14., In a manifolding machine, in combination,feed mechanism for effecting longitudinal feed of continuous traveler record strips, said mechanismincluding strip gripping feed discs for engaging .in strip apertures to check 15. In a manifolding machine, in combination, feed mechanismfor effecting longitudinal feed of continuous traveler record strips, said mechanismincluding strip gripping feed discs for. engaging in strip aperturesto check strip feed after a predetermined advance thereof, acollating sheet support mounted for movement transversely of the path of recdrd strip feed, and reciprocatory mechanism operatively connected with said feed mechanism for. imparting a step by step translatory movement to said collating sheet support.

16. In a manifoldingmachine, in combination, a platen, a'supporting carriage for sup-' portin a record sheet in writing position upon sai platen, and a supporting rail on which said carriage is mounted for translatory and angular movement. p

I 17. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, a supporting carriage for supporting. a record sheet in writing position upon said platen,a supporting rail on which said carriage is mounted for translatory and angular movement,fand checking means for.

arresting the carriage in different successive translatory positions thereof.

18." In amanifo'lding machine, in combination, aplaten, a sup orting carriage for supporting a record s wet in writin position upon said platen, a supporting rai on which said carriage is mounted" for translatory and angular movement, checking means operative when said carriage is in normal sheet supporting position for arrestingthe carriage in dif-' ferent successive translatory positions thereof, and means'whereby the arresting action of said checkingmeans is nullified when the carrialgeisangularly moved on said supporting rai I 7 19; In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, a supporting carriage for supporting a record sheet in writing position upon said platen, a supporting rail on which said carriage is mounted for translatory and angular movement, checking means including checking formationsand adetent. mutually operative between said rail and said car rlage forerresting the latter? in predetermined successive translatory writing positions thereof, and means for nullifying the arresting action of said arresting means when said carriage is angularly moved upon said supporting rail.

20. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, a supporting carriage for supporting a record sheet in writing position upon said platen, a supporting rail on which said carriage is mounted for translatory and angular movement, and means for translating said carriages including a longitudinally reciprocating ratchet bar carried by said rail.

21. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, a supporting carriage for supporting a record sheet in Writing position upon said platen, a supporting rail on which said carriage is mounted for translatory and angular movement, means for translating said carriage including a longitudinally reciprocating bar mounted for sliding movement in a recess in said rail, means carried by said carriage and engaging said reciproeating bar to compel said carriage to move in one direction therewith, and means for reciprocating said bar.

22. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, a supporting carriage for supporting a record sheet in writing position upon said platen, a supporting rail on which said carriage is mounted for translatory and angular movement, means for translating said carriages including a longitudinally reciprocating bar mounted for sliding movement in a recess in said rail, means carried by said carriage and engaging said reciprocating bar to compel said carriage to move in one direction therewith means for reciprocating said bar, and chec ing means for arresting said carriage in difi'erent successive translatory positions thereof.

23. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, a supporting carriage for supporting a record sheet in writing position upon said platen, a supporting rail on which said carriage is mounted for translatory and angular movement, means for translating said carriage including a longitudinally reciprocating bar mounted for sliding movement in a recess in said rail, means carried by said carriage and engaging said reciprocating bar to compel said carriage to move in one direction therewith, means for reciprocating said bar, checking means operative when said carriage is in normal sheet supporting position for arresting the carriage in difi'erent successive translatory positions thereof, and means whereby the arresting action of said chec-king means is nullified when the carriage is angularly moved on said supporting rail.

24. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen, a carriage support disposed transversely of the machine and extending at one end thereof to a point outside of said platen, strip feeding means positioned upon said machine for feeding a record strip longitudinally of said platen and transversely of said carriage support, a record sheet supporting carriage mounted upon said support and reciprocal therealong onto the extending part thereof and automatic checking means for restraining said carriage in definite predetermined transverse positions against movement in opposite directions upon said support and the extending part thereof.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

LOUIS FRED HAGEMANN. 

